Peanut Chew Bars

If you have, you probably love them as much as I do. They’re an old-school candy bar with a peanut and a molasses-like chewy center covered in chocolate. They’ve been around for quite a long time. I happen to know that because my ancestors were chewing down on them back in the earlier part of the 20th century. There are some family stories that center around these candy bars.

Like, back in the day, they were apparently very hard to actually chew. Nowadays they’re softer, and I’ve always loved them. So I had to put them into a soft, dense, thick peanut butter cookie bar! These peanut chew bars are full of the candy and peanuts, too!

Another reason my parents and grandparents enjoyed these candy bars is that they’ve always been certified kosher. I might have mentioned this before, but every single recipe on this blog is 100% kosher. That’s because I keep strict kosher in my home, so I only bake with products that have the certification.

When I was a kid, so many products that are now kosher weren’t. I didn’t try my first Oreo until my 20s, when Nabisco finally made them kosher. My first taste of M & Ms was in my late teens for the same reason. And when my dad was growing up, Hershey bars weren’t kosher. So all he had by way of chocolate bars were Goldenberg Peanut Chews.

One of the reasons I’m so passionate about food as an adult is that I had limited options as a child. I grew up in Indiana, where there isn’t a kosher grocery store. Treats were hard to come by. We either went to Baskin-Robbins or bought Entenmann’s. Man, I have a lot of happy associations with those rich frosted chocolate donuts that come in the blue and white box.

Keeping kosher is much easier on the east coast, where there are a lot more food options. My children have no idea what it’s like to drive three hours to Chicago just to stock up on a couple of months’ worth of fresh meat. They don’t see anything special about ordering a pizza for takeout because there’s a kosher pizza place two minutes away from our house. And they absolutely don’t understand a world where nobody else is like them, where they have to miss out on soccer games or birthday parties because they take place on the Sabbath.

I’m so glad they have no idea that it’s harder in other places. Someday, they might appreciate that we live in a place where it’s easy to observe our laws and customs. But as someone who grew up in a place that didn’t have everything we needed, I take special pleasure in making sure my kids have the things I didn’t.

Isn’t that what every generation wants, after all? For the next one to have it a little easier? I don’t know if we’re really succeeding in that, but I’m sure my dad was happy that my only candy bar option growing up wasn’t a Peanut Chew. Even though they’re completely delicious.

So much so that when I saw them sold in unwrapped bites in the store, I had to buy them and bake with them immediately. These are the softest peanut butter bars ever, and with the chewiness of the candy bars plus the crunch of the peanuts, it’s a perfect texture combination.

If you’re a fan of chocolate bars baked right into your dessert bars, then this is a must-try. I just ate two in a row. Not sorry. And maybe if my kids are good, I’ll let them share. After all, heaven forbid they ever feel deprived of a peanut chew bar.

I fulfill many roles in life: wife, mother, teacher, everlasting learner.
This site is dedicated to one role that expresses my creativity in ways that I find consistently challenging and rewarding: baker.
Inventing new ways to enhance food, especially if that food involves chocolate or peanut butter (or both!), is a passion of mine. I look forward to sharing my ideas with you.

This is JAB’s last week for a while (more on that in a sec), so I wanted to go out strong with some nice fall recipes.

In case you’ve never had a brookie before, it’s just the kind of dessert that inspired me to begin food blogging. A cookie/brownie hybrid deserves a food blog, right?

But you see, these are even better. The bottom layer is a chocolate chip-filled fudgy brownie, and the top is pumpkin chocolate chip cookie dough. I’m so glad brookies are a thing, but even gladder that pumpkin brookies can come out of it!

When it comes to my birthday, I still feel like a little kid. I want presents, parties, and many celebrations. Sometimes that means I’m setting myself up. Let’s face it: I’m a mom of three and nobody has thrown me a party since I was 25. That was a loooooong time ago. But still, I hold out hope!

One thing I’ve learned to do is bake my own birthday treat. A few years ago, I baked this cookie cake for the first time. It was my favorite cookie cake ever, but my photo skills weren’t so great back then. Plus, I wanted to see if I could make the whole thing GF and a little easier. Done and done!

Have you noticed that I like to put brownie in almost everything? Sorry, kids, but an addiction is an addiction. And I don’t want to get help.

Many years ago when I was a sparkly newlywed, someone went off the registry and got us a trifle dish. At first, I was confused. What on earth was this vase-bowl hybrid thingy? But years of experience and some research cleared up my fog. And I learned that trifles are actually quite nice.

More traditional trifles have whipped cream and berries inside of them, but if you’re getting to know me, then you realize that I can’t go without chocolate. Preferably with peanut butter.

This Post Has 31 Comments

Mir – The first time that I had a peanut chew was in middle school. My teacher kept Kosher as did many of the students in my class. Although I grew up in a Christian household, I loved learning about the traditions and customs of other cultures. This post definitely brings back memories. I’d love to try making these at home. 🙂Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg recently posted…Oatmeal Pumpkin Chip Cookies

I think I’ve had a similar peanut chew before, though not in a long time! It reminds me of candy that I used to get on Halloween when I was little. These bars sound fantastic, Mir! Love the peanut butter flavor!Gayle@Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Parmesan Mushroom Bites

Well, I just LOVE these – anything that bakes a candy bar into dessert is a-ok with me! And as always, I love how creative you are! Pinning these to try as soon as I find peanut chews. 🙂Kate @ Framed Cooks recently posted…Apple Dumplings and a Double Giveaway!

I have never heard of them but gosh darn I want one of THESE! They look so outrageously GOOD!! I know my boys will love them, that is, if I decide to share 🙂Trish – Mom On Timeout recently posted…Easy Mexican Chicken and Rice Casserole

Yum! These peanut bars look amazing- your PB desserts are always on point 🙂 And as Bethesda has such a prominent Jewish community, I have several friends who keep strict kosher- and it’s so easy in the DC area now, which is awesome!Medha @ Whisk & Shout recently posted…{Vegan} Caramel Apple Skillet Cookie!

I have never heard of Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews… but I live in under a rock and my chocolate allergy keeps me ignorant to the ways of the choco-holics, unless my husband has politely informed me something chocolate covered is delicious, I have no clue. lol. Anyways, I DO know that anything in bar form rocks the dang house, AND peanut anything is dang delish! So these bars sound fabulous. They look super soft and packed full of yummy goodness! Pinned! P.S. you sound like the best mom on the planet! I already know you are one of the best bloggers on the planet, but mom too? seshhh… your making the rest of us look bad! 🙂 Cheers – to Kosher products being more readily available! XoCheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary recently posted…Perfect Beer Poached Shrimp Cocktail with Remoulade

I’ve never heard of these peanut chews before, but now I’m going to have to go on a mission to find them. I love discovering new candy. And these bars look delectable!Amanda recently posted…Honey Whole Wheat Bread

I’ve never heard of Goldenberg’s Peanut Chews but I do know Entenmann’s! and I remember those frosted chocolate donuts!!! when it comes to food or convenience, our kids have it so easy these days and don’t even get me started on technology. . but yeah, I guess that’s how it goes! so we can tell them. . “back when the internet was just starting. . ” 😛 love these peanut chew bars!!Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom recently posted…Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Banana Blondies + A Giveaway!

Those donuts are my entire childhood, in a nutshell. I have to avoid looking at them. And the technology stuff scares me, because I teach HS students and they are worried about the next generation. Everyone is so addicted!

I’ve never heard of them before, but now I’m definitely going to keep an eye out for them! These look so delicious, Mir. You just can’t go wrong with peanut butter 😉Danielle recently posted…Baked Pumpkin Donut Holes